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COURSE OVERVIEW
The English as Second Language program shall be an intensive program of
instruction designed to develop proficiency in the comprehension, speaking,
reading, and composition in the second language. The amount of instruction
provided in the English as a second language shall be commensurate with
students' level of English proficiency and his or her level of academic
achievement. The students' level of English proficiency and academic level
shall be designated by the language proficiency assessment committee. In
grade 6 or grades 7-12, instruction in ESL may vary from 1/3 of the
instructional day to total immersion in second language approaches. The LPAC
however may recommend only one period a day based on individual needs of the
student.
The ESL curriculum is divided into 3 levels generally organized by skill
area. Listening, reading, writing, grammar, conversation, math, social
studies, and science are taught at each of these levels. In addition,
students have to do some project work and presentations on different themes
at different times of the academic year and they will be given a list of
books to be read as well. The ESL program is an integrated skills program;
any given course will require students to use all their language skills. To
define the students' level we will use the state-criterion -referenced tests
and then teach them on level-basis.
Level 1(beginner-elementary)
Listening
This course is designed to give students a basic foundation in listening
comprehension skills. The course concentrates on listening tasks. Students
listen for letters, spelling, numbers, and directions and respond in a
workbook accordingly.
Content-based Reading
This content-based reading course is designed to give students the
opportunity to develop their reading skills in English within a content area.
Students use a variety of authentic reading materials to learn basic
pre-reading and reading strategies which are designed to improve their
reading comprehension and vocabulary. Easy outside reading will be required as
well. Writing This course focuses on the skills of reading and writing
English at the elementary level. The focus of the course is to help students
gain confidence in writing.
Conversation
This course is designed to give ESL students in Level 1 more practice in
using oral English. The emphasis is on small group work, problem solving,
role plays, and informal discussion. The ratio of students to teacher is
maximum six-seven to one.
Grammar topics
This course is designed to give students a basic foundation in English
grammar and vocabulary. The course also focuses on helping students improve
their oral comprehension and production skills. It includes absolute zero
beginners and elementary level .
Grammar topics are:
·
verb 'to be'
·
present simple
affirmative
·
present simple
interrogative
·
present simple
negative
·
there is, there are
·
possessive 's'
·
adjectives
·
adverbs of
frequency
·
can
·
past of verb 'to
be'
·
past simple
affirmative
·
past simple interrogative
·
past simple
negative
·
present continuous
all forms
·
going to and
present continuous for future
·
comparatives and
superlatives
·
some, any
·
verb patterns
· whose?
Level 2(pre-intermediate -
intermediate)
Listening
This course is designed to introduce ESL students to listening skills which
are needed for aural comprehension in an academic setting. The course is a
directed program which gives students practice in listening to short
lectures, note taking, and vocabulary development. Students are introduced to
several English language speech patterns and the words and phrases which let
the student know that a particular pattern is being used.
Reading
The class focus is on the development of reading skills and vocabulary.
Students learn to read the language presented in textbooks and required
outside readings. They also demonstrate their understanding of the ideas
presented by participating in class activities and discussions, as well as by
responding to short answer essay.
Composition
This writing course focuses on the development of well-written paragraphs.
Students are introduced to the role of American thought patterns as they
relate to writing in English, and they participate in the writing process
based on that knowledge. Some instruction is also given in grammatical
structures which are found in well-written English sentences.
Conversation
This course is designed to give intermediate ESL students more practice using
oral English. The emphasis is on small group work, problem solving, role
plays, and informal discussion.
Grammar topics
·
past continuous all
forms
·
present perfect
simple all forms and uses
·
for, since, ago
·
articles
·
zero conditional
·
first conditional
·
should, may, might
·
'will' and 'going
to' futures
·
must and have to,
don't have to
·
quantifiers
·
'have' and 'have
got'
·
question tags
·
'so' and 'such'
·
present perfect
continuous
·
second conditional
·
passive in present
and past
·
past perfect
·
make, let, allow
·
used to, be used to
·
modals
·
phrasal verbs
·
gerund or
infinitive
·
relative clauses
· subject and object questions
Level 3(intermediate-
upper-intermediated)
Conversation
This course is designed to give advanced ESL students more practice using
oral English. The emphasis is on small group work, problem solving, role
plays, and informal discussion.
Listening
This course focuses on the skills needed in listening for academic
information. The majority of the course concentrates on learning how to
listen for important information and take notes from formal lectures.
Content-based Reading
This course is a continuation of level 2 reading and focuses on the further
development of reading skills needed by students to participate in academic
classes as well as those skills needed in reading for entertainment and
general information. Students read and discuss a variety of authentic texts
and articles and are introduced to specific discourse markers.
Composition
This course is a continuation of ESL level 2 writing, with an emphasis on
developing the writing skills learned in level 2 and expanding these skills
to writing essays. Students work on writing connected discourse and are
introduced to various styles of English essays.
Grammar topics are
·
third conditional
·
mixed conditionals
·
wishes, regrets
·
phrasal verbs
·
reported speech
·
reported questions
·
be used to doing
·
UK and USA English
· future continuous
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